This monthly recap of October 2015 worldwide public holidays news and updates,
covering all the countries of the world, is based on our daily review of hundreds of on-line newspapers, government sites, and institutional sources,
and over a decade of experience following worldwide public holidays, to place current events in context, and anticipate on
possible future changes.

The information on this page is provided for private, non-professional, use. To access our news feed and full database of worldwide public holidays and bank holidays, under license, please contact us.

Dominican Republic 2016 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Ministerio de Trabajo República Dominicana-Santo Domingo) - Summary: The Ministry of Labour of the Dominican Republic has announced its annual official finalized listing of non-working public holidays in the Dominican Republic for the upcoming calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Dominican Republic news and updates.

Malaysian JHR Public Holiday November 1st (Source: Bernama News Agency-Johor Baru) - Summary: The State Secretary of the government of Malaysia's State of Johor, Datuk Ismail Karim, has declared tomorrow, Sunday, November 1st, 2015, as another one-off state public holiday in Malaysia's State of Johor to celebrate the Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) becoming the champions of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup, earlier today. Links: full story and other Malaysia news and updates.

Spain 2016 Ceuta Public Holidays Gazetted (Source: Boletín Oficial de la Ciudad de Ceuta-BOCCE) - Summary: The recently-announced annual list of 2016 non-working public holidays (calendario laboral) in the Ciudad Autónoma de Ceuta, as announced by the legislative assembly of Spain's autonomous region of Ceuta (Ilustre Pleno de !a Asamblea de Ceuta), has been officially gazetted in the BOCCE (Boletín Oficial de la Ciudad de Ceuta). Links: full story and other Spain news and updates.

Guatemala Declares November 2 Public Holiday (Source: Diario de Centro América-Diario público de Guatemala) - Summary: The Government of Guatemala, in an abrupt about-face, released the "Acuerdo Gubernativo 223-2015, del 30 de octubre" which declares Monday, November 2, 2015, as a day in lieu non-working public sector holiday and bank holiday in Guatemala, on account of the upcoming "Día de Todos los Santos" annual public holiday, falling on a Sunday in 2015. Links: full story and other Guatemala news and updates.

Australia ACT Public Holidays Amendments Legislation (Source: ACT Government Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate-Canberra) - Summary: The Chief Minister of Australia's Capital Territory (ACT), Andrew Barr, has announced that, as promised, his government had introduced amendments to the Holidays Act 1958 that will see Easter Sunday become an official public holiday in the ACT alongside public holidays on Good Friday and Easter Monday, effective for the 2016 annual list of non-working public holidays in Australia's Capital Territory (ACT). Links: full story and other Australia news and updates.

Guatemalan November 2 Public Holiday Ruled-Out (Source: Diario de Centro América-Diario público de Guatemala) - Summary: The Guatemalan Ministry of Labour has announced that Monday, November 2, 2015, would not be declared as a day in lieu non-working public holiday in Guatemala on account of the upcoming "Día de Todos los Santos" annual public holiday, falling on a Sunday in 2015. Links: full story and other Guatemala news and updates.

Argentina Full 2016 Public Holidays Released (Source: Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina-Buenos Aires) - Summary: Argentina's Ministry of the Interior has released the full annual official list of non-working public holidays, including the previously-released bridge public holidays ("feriados con fines turísticos"), in Argentina for the upcoming calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Argentina news and updates.

Antigua and Barbuda Mulls New National Heroes Day Public Holiday (Source: Permanent Secretary Ministry of Legal Affairs-St. John's) - Summary: Antigua and Barbuda's Culture Minister, Paul Chet Greene, has told local media that the ABLP government is yet to set aside a day for the observance of a new incarnation of the National Heroes Day annual non-working public holiday in Antigua and Barbuda, as "it has serious implications for the other holidays and has to be discussed with the Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders". Links: full story and other Antigua and Barbuda news and updates.

Panamanian November 2015 Public Holidays Extended (Source: Presidencia de la República de Panamá-Panama City) - Summary: Panama's President, Juan Carlos Varela, has issued 2 decrees ("Decreto Ejecutivo No. 574 de 28 de octubre de 2015" and the "Decreto Ejecutivo No. 575 de 28 de octubre de 2015") which extend the number of, and observance of, the non-working public holidays in Panama for the month of November 2015. Links: full story and other Panama news and updates.

Belize 2016 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Belize Ministry of National Security-Belmopan) - Summary: The press office of the Government of Belize has sent out a press release announcing its official list of annual non-working public holidays in Belize for the upcoming calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Belize news and updates.

Kyrgyzstan Public Holiday November 9 (Source: Kabar Kyrgyz National News Agency-Bishkek) - Summary: The Ministry of Labour, Migration and Youth of the Kyrgyz Republic has announced that Monday, November 9, 2015, would be an official non-working public holiday in Kyrgyzstan, on account of the upcoming, November 7, Day of the Great October Socialist Revolution, annual non-working public holiday of the Kyrgyz Republic. Links: full story and other Kyrgyzstan news and updates.

Argentina Moves November 2015 Public Holiday (Source: Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina-Buenos Aires) - Summary: Argentine President, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, has decided to go ahead as suggested and move the upcoming, November 23, Día de la Soberanía Nacional, annual non-working public holiday in Argentina, to avoid the possible, and more than likely, November 22, second round of the upcoming presidential elections, falling in the middle of a 3-day weekend. Links: full story and other Argentina news and updates.

Macedonian 2016 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Macedonia-Skopje) - Summary: Macedonia's Ministry of Labour and Social Policy has released its annual list of official non-working public holidays in Macedonia for the calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Macedonia news and updates.

Algerian Revolution Day Public Holiday 2015 (Source: Direction Générale de la Fonction Publique-Algiers) - Summary: The Algerian Ministry of Labour (Ministère du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Sécurité Sociale) has announced that Sunday, November 1st, 2015, had been declared a non-working public holiday in Algeria on account of the annual "fête de la Révolution" annual non-working public holiday of Algeria. Links: full story and other Algeria news and updates.

Moldova 2016 Public Holidays Extended (Source: Agentia Informationala de Stat-Moldpres) - Summary: The government of Moldova has announced an extension to the list of 2016 annual non-working public holidays in Moldova ("cu privire la zilele de odihna în anul 2016"), by adding a one-off 2016 non-working public holiday in Moldova to the annual official list of non-working public holidays in Moldova for the upcoming calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Moldova news and updates.

UAE 2015 National Day Public Holidays Announced (Source: Emirates News Agency-WAM) - Summary: The UAE's Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, has finally announced the dates of the upcoming annual Martyrs' Day and National Day non-working public holidays in the UAE, for the public sector, as running from Tuesday, December 1, until Saturday, December 5, 2015, inclusively. Links: full story and other UAE (United Arab Emirates) news and updates.

Zimbabwe 2016 Public Holidays Amended (Source: The Herald-Harare) - Summary: Zimbabwe's Home Affairs Ministers, Ignatius Chombo, has gazetted an amended version of the recently-released annual announcement of the dates for the 2016 non-working public holidays in Zimbabwe in terms of the Zimbabwe Public Holidays and Prohibition of Business Act (Chapter 10:21). Links: full story and other Zimbabwe news and updates.

Kenya Mulls November 26 Public Holiday (Source: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation-Nairobi) - Summary: Kenyan State House spokesman, Manoah Esipisu, has announced that the government of Kenya was considering declaring Thursday, November 26, 2015, as a one-off non-working public holiday in Kenya on account of the upcoming visit of Pope Francis to Kenya. Links: full story and other Kenya news and updates.

Turkey Public Holiday October 30 (Source: Hürriyet Daily News-Istanbul) - Summary: Turkey's Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, has signed a decree declaring an additional non-working public sector holidays in Turkey, on Friday, October 30, 2015, as an "administrative holiday" public sector holiday to link the October 29 Republic Day public holiday with the following weekend and the November 1st elections. Links: full story and other Turkey news and updates.

Philippines All Souls Day 2015 Public Holiday Ruled-Out (Source: Philippine Information Agency-Manila) - Summary: Philippines' Presidential Communications Secretary, Herminio Coloma Jr., has sent a communique to the media ruling-out any chance that Monday, November 2, 2015, would be, declared as an additional non-working public holiday in the Philippines. Links: full story and other Philippines news and updates.

Czech Republic Good Friday Public Holiday Almost There (Source: Czech News Agency-CTK Praha) - Summary: The Czech Lower House has approved a long-standing bill that would add Good Friday to the official list of annual non-working public holidays in the Czech Republic. Links: full story and other Czech Republic news and updates.

Guatemala Electoral Public Holiday October 26 (Source: Diario de Centro América-Diario público de Guatemala) - Summary: The Guatemalan government has declared Monday, October 26, 2015, as a one-off non-working public sector holiday in Guatemala on account of the upcoming presidential elections. Links: full story and other Guatemala news and updates.

Spain 2016 National Public Holidays Gazetted (Source: Boletín Oficial del Estado-BOE) - Summary: Following the recent gazetting of the 2016 public holidays in the last of Spain's autonomous regions, the national government of Spain has gazetted its annual list of official national non-working public holidays (calendario laboral) in Spain for the upcoming calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Spain news and updates.

Thailand December 11 Public Holiday Ruled-Out (Source: Thai News Agency-Bangkok) - Summary: Thailand's Government has issued a communique via Junta Spokesman, Weerachon Sukondhapatipak, ruling-out the possibility of declaring Friday, December 11, 2015, as an additional public holiday in Thailand. Links: full story and other Thailand news and updates.

Jordanian 2016 Bank and Public Holidays Announced (Source: The Central Bank of Jordan-Amman) - Summary: The Central Bank of Jordan has announced its annual list of religious and national non-working public holidays and bank holidays in Jordan for the upcoming calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Jordan news and updates.

Cayman Islands 2016 Public Holidays Confirmed (Source: Gazette Office Cayman Islands Government-Grand Cayman) - Summary: The Deputy Governor's Office of the Cayman Islands has confirmed the previously-released listing of the 2016 annual non-working public holidays in the Cayman Islands. Links: full story and other The Cayman Islands news and updates.

Dominica 2015 Public Holidays Amended (Source: The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica-Office of the Prime Minister) - Summary: The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica has released an amended version of its previously-announced annual official list of 2015 non-working public holidays in Dominica. Links: full story and other Dominica news and updates.

Spain 2016 Valencia Public Holidays Gazetted (Source: Consell de la Generalitat Valenciana-Valencia) - Summary: The Consell de la Generalitat Valenciana has confirmed and gazetted the previously announced official calendar of 2016 non-working public holidays (calendario laboral) in Spain's autonomous region of Valencia. Links: full story and other Spain news and updates.

Australian Victoria 2017 Public Holidays (Source: State Government of Victoria-Melbourne) - Summary: The State Government of Australia's State of Victoria has officially announced the list of annual official non-working public holidays in Australia's State of Victoria for the calendar year 2017. Links: full story and other Australia news and updates.

Puerto Rico Public Holidays Reduction Law Amended (Source: Oficina de Recursos Humanos del Estado Libre Asociado-ORHELO) - Summary: The Senate of Puerto Rico has amended last year's law amending the list of Puerto Rican annual non-working public holidays by lumping 4 of the current annual non-working public sector holidays of Puerto Rico into one. Links: full story and other Puerto Rico news and updates.

Fiji 2016 Public Holidays Gazetted (Source: Ministry of Information-Suva) - Summary: The Fiji Governing Cabinet has officialized by publishing it, an amended version of the previously-announced Gazette Notice No. 68, which lists the dates of the official non-working public holidays in Fiji for the upcoming calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Fiji news and updates.

Bahrain 2015 Ashura Public Holidays (Source: Bahrain News Agency-BNA) - Summary: Bahrain's Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, has issued a circular declaring Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24, 2015, as this year's non-working public holidays in Bahrain to mark the upcoming anniversary of Ashura for the Hijri year 1437. Links: full story and other Bahrain news and updates.

Gambia 2015 Tamharit Public Holiday Announced (Source: The Point Newspaper-Banjul) - Summary: The President of the Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, has announced that the upcoming annual non-working public holiday in the Gambia for the Tamharit (aka. Yawmul Ashura) would be Saturday, October 24, 2015, a date which has been declared a non-working public holiday throughout the Gambia. Links: full story and other The Gambia news and updates.

Mongolian Chinggis Khaan Public Holiday 2015 Announced (Source: Montsame Agency-Ulaanbaatar) - Summary: The Mongolian government has announced Thursday, November 12, 2015, as the date for the upcoming 2015 Chinggis Khaan annual non-working public holiday which was added a few years ago to the list of annual non-working public holidays in Mongolia. Links: full story and other Mongolia news and updates.

Lebanon Ashura Bank Holiday October 24 (Source: Government Portal for Information and Forms-Republic of Lebanon) - Summary: The Association of Banks in Lebanon has announced that the upcoming Hegire (Islamic New Year) bank holiday for all banks and financial institutions of Lebanon, including the Beirut Stock Exchange and the Central Bank of Lebanon, had been modified and would now be observed on Saturday, October 24, 2015. Links: full story and other Lebanon news and updates.

Algerian 2015 Ashura Public Holiday Announced (Source: Direction Générale de la Fonction Publique-Algiers) - Summary: The Algerian Ministry of Labour (Ministère du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Sécurité Sociale) has announced that Saturday, October 24, 2015, had been declared as the date of the "10 Moharram 1437 de l'Hégire" and a non-working public holiday in Algeria on account of annual Achoura (Ashura) non-working public holiday in Algeria. Links: full story and other Algeria news and updates.

Guyana 2015 Deepavali Public Holiday Announced (Source: Guyana Ministry of Home Affairs-Georgetown) - Summary: The government of Guyana's Vice President And Minister Of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has announced that the government of Guyana had gazetted Tuesday, November 10, 2015, as the date of the upcoming Deepavali non-working public holiday in Guyana. Links: full story and other Guyana news and updates.

India 2015 Tamil Nadu Public Holidays Amended (Source: Government of Tamil Nadu-Chennai) - Summary: The Government of India's state of Tamil Nadu has announced that it had amended its previously-released annual list of the days which will be non-working public holidays in India's state of Tamil Nadu for the calendar year 2015, by moving the date of the upcoming Muharram (Ashura) non-working public holiday from Friday, October 23, to Saturday, October 24, 2015. Links: full story and other India news and updates.

Afghanistan Public Holiday October 23 (Source: Pajhwok Afghan News-Kabul) - Summary: The government of Afghanistan has declared Friday, October 23, 2015, as an official non-working public holiday in Afghanistan on the occasion of the annual Afghan public holiday of Ashura. Links: full story and other Afghanistan news and updates.

Malaysian 2016 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Laman Web Rasmi Bahagian Kabinet Jabatan Perdana Menteri-Kuala Lumpur) - Summary: Malaysia's Cabinet's and the Constitution and Government Relations Department of the Prime Minister's Office have jointly issued the annual official Federal Public Holidays Schedule 2016 and State Public Holiday Schedule 2016. Links: full story and other Malaysia news and updates.

Zambia To Add New Annual Public Holiday (Source: The Lusaka Times-Lusaka) - Summary: At yesterday's National Day of Prayer, the President of Zambia, Edgar Lungu, announced that, henceforth, October 18 would be gazetted as an annual non-working public holiday to be observed in Zambia as the National Day of Prayer Zambian public holiday. Links: full story and other Zambia news and updates.

Egyptian Parliamentary Public Holiday October 19 (Source: Egypt State Information Service-Cairo) - Summary: Earlier tonight, the Egyptian cabinet reversed itself and decided to give state employees a one-off non-working public holiday on Monday, October 19, 2015, on account of the current Egyptian parliamentary elections, after a request made earlier today by the governor of Upper Egypt's Qena governorate Abdel Hamid El Haggan. Links: full story and other Egypt news and updates.

Guatemalan October 19 Public Holiday Ruled-Out (Source: Diario de Centro América-Diario público de Guatemala) - Summary: The Guatemalan Ministry of Labour has announced that Monday, October 19, 2015, would not be declared as a day in lieu non-working public holiday in Guatemala on account of the upcoming Revolution Day annual public holiday, falling in the middle of the week in 2015. Links: full story and other Guatemala news and updates.

Senegal 2015 Ashura Public Holiday (Source: Site Officiel du Gouvernement du Sénégal-Dakar) - Summary: The National Moon-Sighting Commission of Sénégal ("Commission nationale d'observation du croissant lunaire" - CNOCL) has announced that the upcoming Tamkharit (aka. Ashura, aka. Achoura) annual non-working public holiday in Sénégal would be on Friday, October 23, 2015. Links: full story and other Sénégal news and updates.

India Telangana Public Holiday October 20 (Source: Government of Telangana-Hyderabad) - Summary: The Government of India's State of Telangana has announced that it had declared Tuesday, October 20, 2015, as a non-working public holiday in India's State of Telangana to mark the upcoming Bathukamma Festival annual non-working public holiday in the Indian State of Telangana. Links: full story and other India news and updates.

Lebanon Ashura Public Holiday October 24 (Source: Government Portal for Information and Forms-Republic of Lebanon) - Summary: The Government of Lebanon has announced that it had changed the date of the upcoming annual non-working public holiday in Lebanon for Ashura, which would now be observed on Saturday, October 24, 2015. Links: full story and other Lebanon news and updates.

Palau UN Public Holiday October 24 (Source: Palau Government-Koror) - Summary: The government of Palau has announced that Saturday, October 24, 2015, would be the date of the annual non-working public holiday in Palau on account of the upcoming United Nations Day non-working public holiday in Palau. Links: full story and other Palau news and updates.

Nepalese Public Holidays October 20-24 (Source: Nepalese Ministry of Home Affairs-Kathmandu) - Summary: The government of Nepal has announced that Tuesday, October 20, 2015, had once again been declared a non-working public holiday in Nepal on account of the upcoming Fulpati annual non-working public holiday of Nepal, which usually occurs on the seventh day of the Dashain festival, but this year on the eight day, as the current Hindu Lunar month had a leap day earlier this month. Links: full story and other Nepal news and updates.

Slovakian 2016 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Ministerstvo zahranicných vecí Slovenskej republiky-Bratislava) - Summary: The government of Slovakia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published its annual official list of non-working public holidays in Slovakia for the upcoming calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Slovakia news and updates.

Bangladesh 2015 Ashura Public Holiday (Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha-BSS) - Summary: Bangladesh's National Moon Sighting Committee has announced that it had sighted the New Moon crescent last night and, therefore, that the upcoming Ashura, and related annual non-working public holiday in Bangladesh, would be observed across the country on Saturday, October 24, 2015, which corresponds to the previously-announced date for Ashura, and related public holiday in Bangladesh. Links: full story and other Bangladesh news and updates.

Vietnam Tet 2016 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Hanoi) - Summary: The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of the government of Vietnam has announced its proposed annual list of the official non-working public holidays in Vietnam for the upcoming Tet (Vietnamese New Year) non-working public holidays for the calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Vietnam news and updates.

Malta Day In Lieu Public Holidays Stalled Again (Source: Malta Department of Information-Government of Malta) - Summary: Despite its assessment of the economy of Malta as "doing well" the government of Malta has submitted a draft budget for 2016 which still does not reinstate, as promised, the system of day in lieu non-working public holidays in Malta when a Maltese annual public holiday falls on a weekend. Links: full story and other Malta news and updates.

Pakistan 2015 Ashura Public Holidays (Source: Pakistan's Ministry of Interior-Islamabad) - Summary: The Ministry of the Interior of the Federal Government of Pakistan has announced the dates for the upcoming Ashura (Martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hossain) annual non-working public holidays throughout Pakistan for the calendar year 2015, as Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24, 2015 (Muharram 9 and 10). Links: full story and other Pakistan news and updates.

Taiwan 2016 Public Holidays Released (Source: Taiwan Central Personnel Administration-Taipei) - Summary: The Directorate General of Personnel Administration has finally released its annual calendar of official non-working public holidays in Taiwan for the upcoming calendar year 2016, with the recent additional changes to the regulations governing non-working public holidays in Taiwan. Links: full story and other Taiwan news and updates.

Morocco 2015 Islamic New Year Public Holiday (Source: Agence Maroc Arabe Presse-Rabat) - Summary: The Government of Morocco, through its "ministère de la fonction publique et de la modernisation de l'administration", has modified its previously-announced date for the upcoming 2015 Fatih Moharam 1437 (Hijri New Year 1437) non-working public holiday in Morocco, following an announcement by the "ministère des Habous et des affaires islamiques". Links: full story and other Morocco news and updates.

Australian Queensland Public Holidays Amendment Gazetted (Source: Department of Justice and Attorney-General-State of Queensland) - Summary: Queensland Parliament has passed into law the "Holidays and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015" which switches the dates of the Birthday of the Sovereign and of the Labour Day annual non-working public holidays in the Australian state of Queensland. Links: full story and other Australia news and updates.

Vanuatu Public Holiday October 15 (Source: Government of Vanuatu-Port Vila) - Summary: Vanuatu's president, Baldwin Lonsdale, has declared tomorrow, Thursday, October 15, 2015, as a one-off regional non-working public holiday in Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, on account of the by-election being held on that date to fill the seat left vacant by the death of former prime minister Edward Natapei. Links: full story and other Vanuatu news and updates.

Egyptian Hijri 1437 Public Holiday Announced (Source: Egypt State Information Service-Cairo) - Summary: A cabinet spokesman for the Ministry of Manpower and Immigration has announced that tomorrow, Wednesday, October 14, 2015, would be a non-working official public holiday for both the public sector and the private sector on account of the upcoming Hijri 1437 Islamic New Year. Links: full story and other Egypt news and updates.

Omani Hijri 1437 Public Holiday Announced (Source: Oman News Agency-Muscat) - Summary: Oman's minister of the Diwan of Royal Court and Chairman of the Civil Service Council, Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal bin Saud Al Busaidi, has announced tomorrow as the date of the non-working public holiday for the employees of the ministries, public authorities and other departments of the State's administrative apparatus, on the occasion of the upcoming annual Hijri New Year 1437 non-working public holiday in Oman. Links: full story and other Oman news and updates.

Egyptian 2015 Parliamentary Elections Public Holidays Ruled-Out (Source: Egypt State Information Service-Cairo) - Summary: The Egyptian minister of local and administrative development, Ahmed Zaki Badr, has announced that the days during which the upcoming parliamentary elections will take place will not be public holidays in Egypt, except for workers at schools where polling stations are located. Links: full story and other Egypt news and updates.

Indian 2016 Public Holidays Amended (Source: The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions-New Delhi) - Summary: India's Central Government's Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, has amended its previously-released annual list of public holidays and restricted holidays to be observed in all the Administrative Offices of the Central Government of India, for the upcoming calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other India news and updates.

Algerian Hijri 1437 Public Holiday (Source: Direction Générale de la Fonction Publique-Algiers) - Summary: The Algerian public sector ministry (Direction Générale de la Fonction Publique) has announced that Thursday, October 15, 2015, had been declared as a non-working public holiday in Algeria on account of the upcoming Hijri 1437 Islamic New Year annual non-working public holiday of Algeria. Links: full story and other Algeria news and updates.

Lebanon Hijri 1437 Public Holiday Wednesday (Source: Government Portal for Information and Forms-Republic of Lebanon) - Summary: The Government of Lebanon has announced that upcoming annual non-working public holiday in Lebanon for the Hijri 1437 (Islamic New Year), would be observed on Wednesday, October 14, 2015, as had been previously announced, late last year. Links: full story and other Lebanon news and updates.

Portugal December 1 Public Holiday Petition (Source: Assembleia da República-Lisboa) - Summary: A former leader of Portugal's People's Party, José Ribeiro e Castro, has delivered a petition to Portugal's Parliament which once again requests the reversal of the 2012 law which abrogated 4 of Portugal's annual non-working public holidays. Links: full story and other Portugal news and updates.

Argentina Mulls November Public Holiday Change (Source: Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina-Buenos Aires) - Summary: A bill has been introduced into Argentina's Lower House (Cámara de Diputados), by MP Patricia Bullrich, which would move the upcoming, November 23, Día de la Soberanía Nacional, annual non-working public holiday in Argentina, to the previous Monday, November 16, 2015, to avoid the possible, and more than likely, second round of the upcoming presidential elections, falling in the middle of a 3-day weekend. Links: full story and other Argentina news and updates.

Bahrain Hijri 1437 Public Holiday (Source: Bahrain News Agency-BNA) - Summary: Bahrain's Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, has issued a circular declaring Thursday, October 15, 2015, as a non-working public holiday in Bahrain to mark the upcoming annual Islamic New Year 1437 public holiday. Links: full story and other Bahrain news and updates.

Nepal Public Holidays October 12-13 (Source: Nepalese Ministry of Home Affairs-Kathmandu) - Summary: The Home Ministry of the Government of Nepal, has announced that the chariot procession of Rato Machindranath Raath Jatra, halted by the April 25 earthquake, and resumed on September 21, had reached Jawalakhel and thus the Home Ministry of the Government of Nepal had decided to declare Monday, October 12, 2015, as the belated date of this year's Bhoto Jatra non-working public holiday in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. Links: full story and other Nepal news and updates.

UAE Hijri New Year 1437 Public Holiday (Source: Emirates News Agency-WAM) - Summary: The Chairman of the UAE's Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAGHR), Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, has announced that the upcoming Hijri New Year 1437 would be on Wednesday, October 14, 2015, and that, as per current legislation, the upcoming annual Al Hijri New Year non-working public holiday for the public sector of the UAE would be moved to adjoin the following weekend. Links: full story and other UAE (United Arab Emirates) news and updates.

Tunisia Mulls Nobel Win Public Holiday (Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse-TAP) - Summary: The President of Tunisia's unicameral parliament (l'Assemblée des Représentants du Peuple, aka ARP), Mohamed Ennaceur, has announced that a national day, possibly a one-off non-working public holiday in Tunisia, would be organized to celebrate last Friday's winning of the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize by a quartet of 4 Tunisian organizations. Links: full story and other Tunisia news and updates.

Nepal Rules-Out Dashain Public Holidays Extension (Source: Nepalese Ministry of Home Affairs-Kathmandu) - Summary: The Information Officer at Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers of Nepal, Chiranjibi Poudel, has announced that the Cabinet of the Government of Nepal had decided not to go along with the proposal of the Nepalese Home Minister, Bamdev Gautam, who had suggested, yesterday, to extend the upcoming Dashain Nepalese public holidays, into a 15-day period of non-working public holidays throughout Nepal. Links: full story and other Nepal news and updates.

Ireland Rejects April 24 or 25 Public Holidays (Source: Houses of the Oireachtas- National Parliament-Dublin) - Summary: Earlier this week, the Cabinet of the Government of the Republic of Ireland, gave consideration to last year's proposal for an annual, or one-off in 2016, Republic Day non-working public holiday, from the All-Party Consultation Group on Commemorations, but decided that "as Easter weekend is traditionally associated with the[1916 Easter]Rising, there was no need to mark it with another day off". Links: full story and other Ireland news and updates.

Nepal Mulls 2015 Dashain Public Holidays Extension (Source: Nepalese Ministry of Home Affairs-Kathmandu) - Summary: A spokesperson for the Home Ministry of the Government of Nepal, Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, has announced the Nepalese Home Ministry was tabling a proposal to extend the upcoming Dashain, 5-day, Nepalese public holidays, into a 15-day period of non-working public holidays throughout Nepal, "in view of the ongoing fuel crisis in the country due to the Indian restriction on importing fuel". Links: full story and other Nepal news and updates.

Macedonian Public Holidays October 11-12 (Source: Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Macedonia-Skopje) - Summary: Macedonia's Ministry of Labour and Social Policy has announced that Sunday, October 11, 2015, had been declared a non-working public holiday for all the citizens of Macedonia on account of the upcoming Day of Popular Uprising annual non-working public holiday in Macedonia. Links: full story and other Macedonia news and updates.

Costa Rican Public Holiday October 12 (Source: Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social de Costa Rica-San José) - Summary: Costa Rica's Minister of Labour has confirmed that the upcoming October 12 non-working public holiday for Costa Rica's (Día del Encuentro de Culturas) was an official non-working public holiday (feriado de pago no obligatorio), as per the amended public holidays legislation of Costa Rica and that, as it occurs on a Monday in 2015, its observance would not be moved to another date. Links: full story and other Costa Rica news and updates.

Sint Maarten Adds Constitution Day Public Holiday (Source: Government of Sint Maarten-Great Bay) - Summary: The Government of Sint Maarten has announced that, the long-discussed, October 10, new annual non-working public holiday in Sint Maarten would come into effect as of this year (this month, to be more precise) and that "Constitution Day will be celebrated as a Public Holiday on October 12th 2015". Links: full story and other Sint Maarten news and updates.

Guatemalan Bank Holiday October 12 (Source: Superintendencia de Bancos de Guatemala-Guatemala City) - Summary: The supervisory body in charge of the banking sector in Guatemala (the Superintendencia de Bancos de Guatemala) has announced that, in line with, the upcoming annual "Día de la Raza" bank holiday of Guatemala would be observed on Monday, October 12, 2015. Links: full story and other Guatemala news and updates.

Kuwaiti Hijri 1437 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Kuwait Civil Service Commission-Kuwait City) - Summary: The Kuwaiti Civil Service Commission has announced that it had declared Wednesday, October 14, 2015, as the date of the annual non-working public holiday of Kuwait for the upcoming New Hijri Year 1437. Links: full story and other Kuwait news and updates.

Germany 2017 BE Reformation Public Holiday (Source: Berliner Morgenpost-Berlin) - Summary: The Home Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies (Innenausschuss des Abgeordnetenhauses) of Germany's state (Land) of Berlin, with the votes of the governing SPD/CDU coalition, as well as those of the Greens opposition, approved the bill that would declare October 31, 2017, as a one-off public holiday (gesetzlichen Feiertag) to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther posting his ninety-five theses on the door of the Castle Church of Wittenberg. Links: full story and other Germany news and updates.

Spain 2016 Valencia Public Holidays Announced (Source: Consell de la Generalitat Valenciana-Valencia) - Summary: The Consell de la Generalitat Valenciana has announced its annual official calendar of non-working public holidays in Spain's autonomous region of Valencia for the upcoming calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Spain news and updates.

Omani Public Holidays For Hijri New Year 1437 (Source: Oman News Agency-Muscat) - Summary: Oman's Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal bin Saud Al Busaidi, has announced the decision to declare a non-working public holiday for the employees of the ministries, public authorities and other departments of the State's administrative apparatus, on the occasion of the upcoming annual Hijri New Year 1437 non-working public holiday in Oman. Links: full story and other Oman news and updates.

Jordanian Hijri 1437 Public Holiday Announced (Source: Jordan News Agency Petra-Amman) - Summary: Jordanian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ensour, has issued a circular decreeing a public holiday in Jordan on Thursday, October 15, 2015, to commemorate the upcoming annual Jordanian non-working public holiday for the Hijri New Year 1437. Links: full story and other Jordan news and updates.

Thailand 2016 Public Holidays Extended (Source: The Bank of Thailand-Bangkok) - Summary: Thailand's Government Cabinet, once again at the request of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, has declared 3 additional one-off non-working public holidays in 2016 in Thailand, to create a four-day period of public holidays in Thailand near the annual Coronation Day public holiday, and a five-day period of public holidays for the annual Thai public holiday of Asalha Puja and Buddhist Lent. Links: full story and other Thailand news and updates.

British Virgin Islands 2016 Public Holidays Announced (Source: British Virgin Islands Cabinet Office-BVI) - Summary: The Cabinet of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has approved and announced the annual list and dates of official non-working public holidays for 2016 in the British Virgin Islands, in accordance with Section 5 of the Public Holidays Act (Cap 199). Links: full story and other British Virgin Islands news and updates.

Spain 2016 Ceuta Public Holidays Announced (Source: Boletín Oficial de la Ciudad de Ceuta-BOCCE) - Summary: The legislative assembly of Spain's autonomous region of Ceuta (Ilustre Pleno de !a Asamblea de Ceuta) has approved the annual official list of 2016 non-working public holidays (calendario laboral) in the Ciudad Autónoma de Ceuta. Links: full story and other Spain news and updates.

Bangladesh Moves 2015 Durga Puja Public Holiday (Source: Ministry of Public Administration, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh-Dhaka) - Summary: Bangladesh's Cabinet Division Secretary, Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, has announced that the previously-released list of official non-working public holidays in Bangladesh for the calendar year 2015 had been amended by moving the date of the upcoming Durga Puja annual non-working public holiday of Bangladesh, from its announced date of October 23, 2015. Links: full story and other Bangladesh news and updates.

Cambodia 2016 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Cabinet of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia-Phnom Penh) - Summary: Cambodia's Prime Minister has signed a Cambodian Royal Government's sub-decree Kor.Bor/Bror.Kor establishing Cambodia's annual list of official non-working public holidays for the upcoming calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Cambodia news and updates.

Ecuador Public Holiday October 9 (Source: Agencia de Noticias del Ecuador y Sudamérica-ANDES) - Summary: Ecuador's Minister of Tourism (Ministra de Turismo), Sandra Naranjo, has issued a communique confirming that the upcoming October 9, feriado nacional por la Independencia de Guayaquil, is a compulsory annual non-working public holiday in Ecuador which will be observed, this year, on Friday, October 9, 2015. Links: full story and other Ecuador news and updates.

Australian NT 2016 Public Holidays Announced (Source: NT Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment-Darwin) - Summary: The Government of Australia's Northern Territory has published its quasi-annual list of non-working public holidays in Australia's Northern Territory for the calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Australia news and updates.

Panama October 5 Public Holiday Ruled-Out (Source: Presidencia de la República de Panamá-Panama City) - Summary: Panama's President, Juan Carlos Varela, has issued an official statement ruling-out the declaration of a one-off non-working public holiday in Panama on Monday, October 5, 2015, following the declaration of a day of national mourning (Día de Duelo Nacional) on Sunday, October 4, 2015, to mourn the recent death of former Panamanian President, Eric Arturo Delvalle. Links: full story and other Panama news and updates.

Bangladesh 2016 Public Holidays Draft (Source: Ministry of Public Administration, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh-Dhaka) - Summary: Bangladesh's Public Administration Ministry, has announced that it had finalized the draft version of the annual list of official non-working public holidays in Bangladesh for the upcoming calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Bangladesh news and updates.

Bhutanese 2016 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Royal Civil Service Commission of Bhutan-Thimphu) - Summary: The Royal Civil Service Commission of the Government of Bhutan has released its annual official list of national and regional non-working public holidays in Bhutan for the upcoming calendar year 2016, comprising the end of the present Year of the Wood Female Sheep and most of the upcoming Year of the Fire Male Monkey. Links: full story and other Bhutan news and updates.

Papua New Guinea 2016 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea-Port Moresby) - Summary: The Acting Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, Theodore Zurenuoc, has released the annual gazetted official list of appointed non-working public holidays in Papua New Guinea for the upcoming calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Papua New Guinea news and updates.